Explore the Beauty and Culture of El Salvador: A Travel Guide
Breathtakingly lush and home to world-class surfing, dark-sand beaches and blossom-filled villages, El Salvador may be Central America’s best-kept travel secret. Visitors are in for a treat of sublime coffee, intriguing history, and some of the warmest welcomes on the planet.
Interspersed between the forest, mountains, and 21 volcanoes are the best-preserved ruins of Mayan civilisation. A highlight is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Joya de Cerén, which is all that remains of a Mayan settlement buried under volcanic ash 1,400 years ago. The San Andrés region and the ruins of Tazumal are other vestiges of this ancient people.
Getting around the small country is easily achieved by bus or taxi. The longest journey is between San Salvador and La Palma, and that lasts a meagre four hours, making internal flights redundant. San Salvador and San Sebastian are the main attractions. The latter is a popular, picturesque beachside resort village, a town of quaint Romanesque sights and simple beauty.
San Salvador, by contrast, is the hub of a rapidly industrialising country. It is densely populated and crime-ridden. Still, visitors can enjoy a wide range of sights in the city; colonial cathedrals and buildings including the Catedral Metropolitana, St Ignatius Loyola, and the Spanish façade. Atop San Jacinto Mountain visitors can enjoy a panoramic vista of the city as well as an amusement park and cable car rides.
Key Facts
- Language:
- Passport/Visa:
All foreign visitors to El Salvador must hold return or onward tickets, and the required travel documentation for their next destination. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter El Salvador if passengers are arriving from or transiting through any yellow fever risk area. It is highly recommended that travellers’ passport have at least six months’ validity remaining after the intended date of departure from their travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.
- Currency:
The official currency of El Salvador is the US Dollar (USD). It’s virtually impossible to change pounds sterling anywhere in El Salvador, so travellers should bring cash in US dollars. Smaller bars, shops and restaurants generally won’t accept $50 and $100 notes, though visitors can exchange these at banks on arrival. It’s advisable that travellers bring smaller denominations with them. ATMs are widely available but travellers should inform their banks that they’re visiting El Salvador to avoid their cards being blocked.
- Electricity:
- Electrical current in El Salvador is 120 volts, 60Hz. American-style flat two-pin plugs and a plug with a third round grounding pin are standard.
Customs in El Salvador
The people are warm, welcoming, and friendly. However, etiquette in El Salvador can be formal in address. Visitors should always use the formal pronoun ‘usted’ with strangers and acquaintances, and use titles of respect. Greetings are common in shops and in passing on the street, and it is considered rude not to return a greeting. El Salvador culture is patriarchal and women traditionally show respect to men. It is considered rude for anyone to put their feet up on a chair or table, or to yawn without covering their mouth.
Duty Free in El Salvador
Visitors to El Salvador may import the following goods: 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco in any form, 12 litres of alcoholic beverages, 6 units of perfume and gifts valued up to USD 500.
Communication in El Salvador
The international dialling code for El Salvador is +503. Visitors can purchase local SIM cards and WiFi is available at many cafes and restaurants, and nearly all hostels and hotels in urban areas.
Passport/Visa Note
All foreign visitors to El Salvador must hold return or onward tickets, and the required travel documentation for their next destination. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter El Salvador if passengers are arriving from or transiting through any yellow fever risk area. It is highly recommended that travellers’ passport have at least six months’ validity remaining after the intended date of departure from their travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.
Entry Requirements
- Entry requirements for Americans:
US citizens must have a valid passport. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
- Entry requirements for Canadians:
Canadian citizens must have a passport valid for six months on arrival in El Salvador. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
- Entry requirements for UK nationals:
British citizens must have a passport valid for six months on arrival. British passport holders do not require a visa for a stay of up to three months; unless their passports are endorsed ‘British National (Overseas)’, in which case a visa must be pre-arranged. British visitors will be required to buy a Tourist Card (fee: USD 10) upon arrival if they do not have a visa.
- Entry requirements for Australians:
Australian citizens must have a passport valid for six months on arrival. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
- Entry requirements for Irish nationals:
Irish citizens must have a passport valid for six months on arrival. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
- Entry requirements for New Zealanders:
New Zealand citizens must have a passport valid for six months on arrival. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
- Entry requirements for South Africans:
South African citizens must have a passport valid for six months on arrival. A visa is not required for stays of up to three months.
Tourist Offices
Tourist Information Center, La Union: http://www.elsalvador.travel/en
El Salvador Embassies
- In the United States:
Embassy of El Salvador, Washington, D.C. United States: +1 202 595 7500
- In Canada:
Consulate General of El Salvador, Toronto, Canada: +1 416 975 08152
- In the United Kingdom:
El Salvador Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 207 224 9800
- In Australia:
Consulate General of El Salvador, Melbourne, Australia: +61 3 9686 9151
- In New Zealand:
Consulate General of El Salvador, Melbourne, Australia: +61 9686 9151 (also responsible for New Zealand)
Foreign Embassies in El Salvador
- American Embassy
Embassy of the United States in San Salvador, El Salvador: +503 2501 2999
- Canadian Embassy
Canadian Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador: +503 2133 1100
- British Embassy
British Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador: +503 2511 5757
- Australian Embassy
Australian Consulate in San Salvador, El Salvador: +503 2298 9447
Public Holidays Around the World
Planning your year? Knowing public holidays in different countries can help you plan trips, schedule events, or understand global schedules. Below, find a comprehensive list of public holidays sorted by country.
